Following a styling precedent set by the sedan/coupe members of the E-Class lineup, this sportier offshoot will get its own exterior cues that go well beyond the reduced door count. Even under full-body camouflage, the new S-Coupe appears to have a slimmer and sleeker front clip with sportier grille/light/fascia treatments that more closely resemble the SL-Class. In addition to its lower roofline and more steeply-raked windshield/back glass, the aft quarters of the new S-Coupe feature a shorter deck and unique fascia design punctuated by what looks to be more horizontally-oriented tail lamps.

Like the current CL-Class, powertrains for the 2015 S-Class Coupe can be expected to largely parallel those in the S-Class Sedan. In the U.S., they should include the already-announced 4.7-liter 455-horsepower twin-turbo V8 unit that will appear in the new S550, as well as the more potent 5.5-liter AMG V8 in the still-to-be shown S63 AMG, both backed by a 7-speed automatic transmission. A range-topping force-fed V12 also should appear at some point.

While the automaker has yet to confirm where or when the 2015 Mercedes-Benz S-Class Coupe will make its formal debut, the car could well be one of the stars at the Frankfurt Auto Show in September. Later on, the new S-Coupe is set to spawn an equally chic and sophisticated S-Class Convertible.